The Lakers' Kobe Bryant grimaces after being injured during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, April 12, 2013, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 118-116. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Lakers' Kobe Bryant grimaces after being injured during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, April 12, 2013, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 118-116. (AP

Kobe Bryant's season ended after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Friday's game against Golden State.

Kobe Bryant's season ended after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Friday's game against Golden State.

Photo: Jeff Gross, Staff

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Lakers' Bryant out for the season after surgery to repair torn Achilles

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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Kobe Bryant had surgery Saturday on his torn Achilles tendon, ending his season with two games left in the Los Angeles Lakers' playoff chase.

Lakers trainer Gary Vitti thinks Bryant will need six to nine months for recovery from the most serious injury of his 17-year NBA career. Given Bryant's history of swift recovery from countless minor injuries, Vitti and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak both believe the 34-year-old guard could be back for their season opener.

"I think that's a realistic goal for him, based on what he was talking about this morning," Kupchak said at the Lakers' training complex after visiting Bryant at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.

Bryant completely tore his left Achilles tendon late in the Lakers' 118-116 win over Golden State on Friday night, falling to the hardwood after pushing off his planted foot in a move toward the hoop. Although he stayed in the game to hit two tying free throws with 3:08 to play, Bryant's season was over.

Nobody knows how the injury will affect Bryant's play, but his decision to have surgery less than 24 hours after getting hurt suggests he's determined to get back on top swiftly.

And while it's far too early to predict exactly when Bryant will be back, the Lakers say they wouldn't consider parting ways with their franchise player, who will make nearly $30.5 million next year. If the Lakers used the amnesty clause on Bryant in early July, they could save possibly $80 million in luxury taxes.

Los Angeles (43-37), which hosts San Antonio on Sunday and Houston on Wednesday, is one game ahead of the Utah Jazz (42-38) for the final postseason spot in the Western Conference. Utah holds the tiebreaker, which means the Lakers must finish one game ahead to make the playoffs for the 16th time in Bryant's career.

Bryant fought back tears in the locker room after learning his tendon was torn, and he wrote a Facebook post about his injury early Saturday morning, saying his "frustration is unbearable."

"Why the hell did this happen ?!?" Bryant wrote. "Makes no damn sense. Now I'm supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that??"

He added: "Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me...Then again maybe not!"